STEVENSON] WITCHCRAFT 401 



the same. The director deposited root medicine in two bowls; the 

 medicine in one was for me and that in the other for my comjjanion. 

 He directed us when intending- to use it to bite off the smallest 

 quantity, chew it, and spit it into our hands, then to rub them tooether 

 and shake hands with the girl we wished to control. He also gave 

 us a root medicine to counteract the effect of the other. He jiivpared 

 two plume off'ei-ings for each of us. At daybreak he ))laeed a root 

 medicine in a bowl and poured water over it, and as he stirivd the 

 water with his reed, suds rose high, like a mountain. He did not sing, 

 but talked low while he made the suds. He then bathed our heads 

 and entire liodies in the medicine suds, and directed us to take our 

 plume offerings to the tields and plant them under a ledge of rock, so 

 that the eyes of the plume sticks should look west, not to the sun, as 

 that would offend the Sun Father. Returning to the village and see- 

 ing two maidens bearing water vases upon tlieir heads, we chewed our 

 medicine, rubbed our hands together and approached them. We 

 shook hands with the girls and they went on to their homes, and after 

 depositing the water vases, seated themselves, for they felt their 

 hearts flying around. Each girl sat still a minute, then jumped up 

 and turned around like a top, then slept a moment, and then threw 

 her arms wildly about. They could not keep their heads or legs 

 still. They jumped up and ran about the streets. We did not make 

 these girls our wives. They were too crazy. In a short time they 

 died." It was evident to the writer that the l)oy had made use of 

 his observations of the girl in weaving his story, and it was a clever 

 thought which prompted him to claim to possess a medicine which 

 would counteract the effect of the other. His tale was no sooner told 

 than the warriors declared in one voice that they must have proof of 

 Avhat the}' had heard: "We must see tho medicine. You must pro- 

 duce it." Whereupon the grandfather of the girl was detailed to 

 accompany the accused to his home for the medicine. On his return 

 he drew two kinds of roots from his pocket. That which would pi-o- 

 duce insanity was in one piece; that capable of counteracting its effect 

 was in three pieces. He claimed he could make himself crazy and 

 well again at will, according to the root he used. His description of 

 these roots as he presented thiMU for the inspection of his judges was 

 dramatic. The warriors had become so absorbed by their interest in 

 the narrative of the boy that they seemed entirely to have forgotten 

 the cause of his appearance before them. In one voice they demanded 

 a manifestation. The boy removed his head-kerchief and trousers, 

 leaving on only his l)eads and breechcloth. the moccasins having l>een 

 removed on entering- the room. He asked for a basket of sacred mt>al 

 and sprinkling" some on the floor, covering a space al)ont 4 inches 

 square, he examined the root>: Hrst tlie piece that would produce 

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